Rio Ferdinand and Nicky Butt question Man United’s Andrey Santos midfield plans

Nicky Butt tells Man Utd to sign ‘brilliant’ World Cup star instead of Andrey Santos

Santos is set to join United in a £50m deal (Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Former Manchester United star Nicky Butt has questioned the club’s decision to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea, fearing the club are taking a huge gamble in their midfield rebuild. After missing out on top targets Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes with Aurelien Tchouameni now expected to sign a new contract with Real Madrid, United have agreed a £50million deal to sign Santos. The 22-year-old impressed on loan at Strasbourg on loan before returning to Stamford Bridge for his first full season at the club last term. With Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia also in the frame, he made 25 starting appearances across all competitions last season with just 13 of them coming in the Premier League.   Butt, who won six Premier League titles at United, has been left thoroughly underwhelmed by the move. Don't miss a World Cup moment Bellingham has stood tall for Thomas Tuchel (Picture: FIFA via Getty) England need three more wins, how are your nerves? Make sense of the drama with Metro's free daily newsletter, featuring England updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Sign up now. He told Paddy Power: ‘I’ve seen him play a few times but nothing stands out that makes you go, “wow, he’s got great ability on the ball or he’s a powerhouse”. ‘It’s come totally out of the blue. It’s either genius by the recruitment team and they’re saying, ‘this lad is going to be the next big thing, we’ll pay the £50m quick and throw him straight in the deep end’.  “But by virtue of him only starting 13 games for Chelsea last year, who finished 10th, it doesn’t scream out a good signing to me. Butt is not convinced by the Brazilian (Picture: Matt McNulty/Getty Images) He continued: “We need players in midfield that make us a lot better. I really don’t like having a go at young players or new signings before they go and prove themselves, but it’s one where they’re buying potential over someone that’s done it. “He could come and blow us away and everyone’s saying, ‘what a signing, he could be the best signing of the last five-ten years at Man United’. “But then again he could just end up being another Manuel Ugarte that doesn’t perform at the top level.’ Santos will be the second Brazilian recruit with Ederson undergoing the second part of his medical ahead of his £35m move from Atalanta. United have been looking to sign up to three midfielders with Casemiro departing and Manuel Ugarte sidelined with a knee injury but Butt is convinced priorities will now lie elsewhere. Berge also on United’s radar (Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) United do appear to be exploring further midfield additions with interest still in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. They have also shown interest in Fulham and Norway midfielder Sander Berge with Butt believing he would be a fine signing for his old club. ‘I can’t see how they can go and buy another midfielder with the finances – they’ve got to get a right back, they’ve got to get a centre back or two, they’ve got to get a centre forward,’ Butt said. ‘If they don’t do that then the squad is nowhere near ready to challenge for the top four again. ‘Sander Berge has been brilliant for Norway. There’s always someone at a World Cup that stands out. He’s one of the ones that has really stood out and makes you go, “wow, what a player he is.” ‘But some people are different players for their country, he didn’t stand out that much for me at Fulham. ‘In the last few games, with his athleticism and his size he’s a powerhouse, a really good player. ‘But I just don’t see Man United buying another midfielder now. They can’t unless they’ve got more money than we think.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

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Rio Ferdinand sends warning to £50m Man Utd signing after Chelsea transfer

Ferdinand doesn’t want business to end there (Picture: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images) Rio Ferdinand is not convinced Andrey Santos will be an immediate starter for Manchester United next season. United have made rebuilding their midfield a top priority this summer abd have already missed out on two top targets in Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes who have joined Manchester City and Tottenham respectively. They have moved quickly to wrap up a deal for Chelsea midfielder Santos, however, with a deal worth an initial £48million agreed on Thursday. He is expected to become United’s second signing of the summer with a deal also agreed to sign Ederson from Atalanta for £35million. With Casemiro leaving the club and Manuel Ugarte facing a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, United are desperately short of options in the middle of the park. Don't miss a World Cup moment Bellingham has stood tall for Thomas Tuchel (Picture: FIFA via Getty) England need three more wins, how are your nerves? Make sense of the drama with Metro's free daily newsletter, featuring England updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Sign up now. While Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount can play there, Kobbie Mainoo is the only senior central midfielder available to Michael Carrick until new signings are in the door. Despite the lack of options, United legend Ferdinand is not convinced Santos will be an automatic starter when the club get their campaign up and running against newly-promoted Hull City on 22 August. While the former defender believes Santos could prove to be a long-term partner in midfield for Mainoo, he suggests there is room for another signing in the middle of the park. Santos set to join United (Picture: Visionhaus/Getty Images) ‘Is he the guy who is going to replace Casemiro? I don’t think he is the guy who immediately jumps into those shoes and performs at that level right now,’ Ferdinand told Rio Reacts. ‘Could he grow, does he have the potential? Yes. Could he be the long-term partner for Kobbie Mainoo? Yes, he could. Santos could be a long-term partner for Mainoo (Picture: Visionhaus/Getty Images) ‘But I’m looking to see who else they bring in in that area because I think he is one of maybe three to come into that area to share the load. ‘He has played in the Premier League, he has got six caps for Brazil. I’ve seen a lot of the fan base are quite negative about it, but I think they are only negative about it because he’s the first one and other clubs are signing players who have been in the news a lot more. ‘Is he a good addition to the squad? Yes. Is he going to start immediately? I would say not right now.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

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